[Natriuretic peptides and their use in clinical practice according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology].

In recent years, assay levels of natriuretic peptides are used in everyday clinical practice. The most commonly used is the assay the concentration of NT-proBNP in conjunction with the longest half-life (120 minutes) and its stability. According to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology determination of NT-proBNP were used in the diagnosis of acute and chronic heart failure, risk stratification in acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolism and in assessing the overall risk of cardiovascular patients prior to surgery.

Distal neuroprotection system as option for right subclavian artery ostial recanalization.

We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with neurological symptoms and severe atherosclerosis of aortic arch branches affecting subclavian and carotid arteries. Our patient has a history of transient ischemic attack and recurrent paresthesias of her right arm. We present a double access intervention using a distal embolic neuroprotection device during ostial right subclavian artery recanalization.

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids reduce lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) in patients with stable angina.

Background And Aims: Increased consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) together with lifestyle measures and medications is recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanisms underlying observed benefits are not well defined. To this aim, we evaluated the effects of omega-3 PUFA in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass and activity and their relation to oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxy-LDL).

Secondary prevention in patients after hospitalisation due to coronary artery disease: what has changed since 2006?

Background: The evidence concerning the quality of secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Poland in recent years is scarce.

Aim: To compare the implementation of secondary prevention guidelines into everyday clinical practice between 2006-2007 and 2011-2012 in patients after hospitalisation due to CAD.

Methods: Five hospitals with departments of cardiology serving a city and its surrounding districts in the southern part of Poland participated in the study.

[Natriuretic peptides. History of discovery, chemical structure, mechanism of action and the removal routes. Basis of diagnostic and therapeutic use].

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are the group of proteins synthesized and secreted by the mammalian heart. All the NP are synthesized from prohormones and have 17-amino acid cyclic structures containing two cysteine residues linked by internal disulphide bond. They are characterized by a wide range of actions, mainly through their membrane receptors.

The prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings in a sample of urban adult population.

Background: Echocardiography has emerged as the test of choice for the evaluation of cardiac diseases.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of a spectrum of cardiac abnormalities detected by echocardiography in a representative sample of an urban adult population.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in a random sample of 511 men (47%) and women (53%) aged 48-76 years selected from population registers in Krakow.

Effects of murine and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on cuprizone induced demyelination.

For the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis there are no regenerative approaches to enhance remyelination. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been proposed to exert such regenerative functions. Intravenous administration of human MSC reduced the clinical severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model mimicking some aspects of multiple sclerosis.

Age, sex, and secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease in everyday practice.

Background: Many researchers have studied age- and sex-related differences in the management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, the results are inconsistent.

Aim: To assess sex- and age-related bias in the secondary prevention in patients hospitalised due to ischaemic heart disease.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increase plasma adiponectin to leptin ratio in stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Growing evidence suggests a cardioprotective role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). However, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of omega-3 PUFA in humans have not yet been fully clarified.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate omega-3 PUFA-mediated effects on adipokines in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Serum biomarkers and clinical outcomes in heart failure patients treated de novo with carvedilol.

Background: The role of inflammatory and hemodynamic stress biomarkers in heart failure (HF) patients treated de novo with beta-blockers has been poorly studied.

Methods: A total of 86 patients (age 56 ± 9 years, 81 men) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% and previously not treated with beta-blockers were initiated on carvedilol. At baseline and 12 months later we performed echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and determined serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF -a).

Myocardial dysfunction and chronic heart failure in patients with long-lasting type 1 diabetes: a 7-year prospective cohort study.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of myocardial dysfunction (MD) and heart failure (HF) in long-lasting (≥10 years) type 1 diabetes without cardiovascular disorders or with hypertension or coronary heart disease (CHD). The study included 1,685 patients with type 1 diabetes (mean baseline age, 51 years; diabetes duration, 36 years). In all patients, echocardiography was performed, NT-proBNP levels were measured, and clinical symptoms were evaluated.

Side by side treadmill walking with intentionally desynchronized gait.

Humans demonstrate an innate desire to synchronize stepping when walking side by side. This behavior requires modification of each person's gait, which may increase for pairings with very different walking patterns. The purpose of this study was to compare locomotor behavior for conditions in which partners exhibited similar and substantially different walking patterns.

Platelet activation and microvascular injury in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of thrombotic complications after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aim: To assess whether inhibition of platelet function attenuates microvascular damage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We studied 83 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI.

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids improve responsiveness to clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with cytochrome P450 2C19 loss-of-function polymorphism.

Background: Antiplatelet properties of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been demonstrated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It is unknown whether omega-3 PUFA can enhance platelet inhibition on standard aspirin and clopidogrel treatment in the setting of CYP2C19 loss-of-function polymorphism.

Aim: To investigate whether omega-3 PUFA are able to modify platelet responsiveness to clopidogrel therapy in patients with CYP2C19 loss-of-function polymorphism undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

[Soft tissue balanced navigation of total knee arthroplasties].

Objective: Implantation of a total knee arthroplasty with a correct mechanical axis, a rectangular joint gap and a reconstructed joint line by use of an imageless computer navigation device

Indications: Symptomatic gonarthrosis if non operative treatment or joint preserving operations remains ineffective

Contraindications: Infections; soft tissue damage in the approach area; massive instability of the collateral ligaments

Surgical Technique: Medial parapatellar approach to the knee joint; diminution of the patella; fixation of the reference arrays in tibia and femur; registration of leg axis, ligament balance and surface of the knee joint by use of the navigation system; tibial resection perpendicular to the mechanical axis; ligament balancing to achieve a rectangular extension gap; femoral implant planning to maintain the original joint line and reconstruct an equal joint gap in extension and flexion; femora resection perpendicular to the mechanical axis; reconstruction of the rectangular flexion gap by rotation of the femoral resection; two stage cementing technique for fixation of the original implants; check of the final mechanical axis and symmetry of the joint gap over the whole range of motion; wound closure.

Postoperative Management: Physiotherapy; continuous passive motion treatment; mobilization with 20 kg weight bearing with 2 crutches for 2 weeks, thereafter with 2 crutches and incremental full weight bearing for 4 weeks.

Results: The analysis of 582 consecutive navigated total knee arthroplasties showed one case of extension gap instability  > 3 mm (0.

[Epidemiology of pulmonary embolism in patients with cardiac department].

Unlabelled: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a embolic material. ZP is usually a manifestation of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which in addition to the ZP includes deep vein thrombosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of pulmonary embolism in patients in the cardiology department with regard to gender and age.

[Prevalence of age, gender and body weight on the frequency of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients hospitalized in cardiology department].

Unlabelled: Overweight and obesity are a major medical problems of the twenty-first century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the world are about 1.6 billion people with overweight and at least 400 million adults are obese.

Robot applied stance loading increases hindlimb muscle mass and stepping kinetics in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

Following spinal cord injury (SCI) reduced limb usage typically results in muscle atrophy. While robotic locomotor training has been shown to improve several aspects of stepping ability following SCI, little is known regarding the effects of automated training on the preservation of muscle function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two robotic locomotor training algorithms on hindlimb strength and muscle mass in a rat model of SCI.

[The endogenous cardioprotection during reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction].

A prompt primary percutaneous coronary intervention with aspiration thrombectomy and subsequent stent implantation at the culprit lesion combined with optimal anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic pharmacotherapy is the safest and most effective reperfusion strategy. Unfortunately, this therapy does not guarantee always a good, long-term clinical outcome and left ventricular function recovery. Despite the unquestionable benefit of reperfusion, we have evidence that its initial phase leads to additional damage at the area at risk, so the final effect is the compromise between benefits and destruction, which come with the reperfusion wavefront.

Assessment of hindlimb locomotor strength in spinal cord transected rats through animal-robot contact force.

Robotic locomotor training devices have gained popularity in recent years, yet little has been reported regarding contact forces experienced by the subject performing automated locomotor training, particularly in animal models of neurological injury. The purpose of this study was to develop a means for acquiring contact forces between a robotic device and a rodent model of spinal cord injury through instrumentation of a robotic gait training device (the rat stepper) with miniature force/torque sensors. Sensors were placed at each interface between the robot arm and animal's hindlimb and underneath the stepping surface of both hindpaws (four sensors total).

The influence of obesity on progression of coronary arteriosclerosis and clinical course after ST elevation acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary interventions.

Purpose: Evaluation of influence of obesity on the coronary atherosclerosis development and clinical outcome in patients with STEMI treated by PCI with BMS implantation.

Material And Method: 82 patients (64 men) treated with PCI within 6 hours from 1st STEMI. Three groups of pts were formed according to BMI.